You work hard to create valuable content for your email subscribers, hoping your subject line will win them over and they will read your email.
But your emails bounce or end up in the spam folder.
The most likely reason? It has a bad IP reputation. Your IP address may be blacklisted, and hence, email servers may not be accepting your emails and marking you as spam.
Is all hope lost? Not really. All you need to do is perform an IP blacklist check and take the necessary steps to delist yourself if it’s blacklisted. Let us walk you through the entire process.
What is an IP blacklist?
An IP blacklist is a database of IP addresses flagged for suspicious or harmful activities, such as sending spam, malware, or phishing emails. Internet service providers (ISPs), email services, and security tools use these blacklists to protect users. They are updated in real time to prevent spam emails.
Reasons why IPs get blacklisted
There can be many reasons for an IP address to get blacklisted. Here are some of them:
1. IPs hitting more than the permissible threshold level of spam traps
A spam trap is an email address that is set up and monitored by ISPs to catch spammers sending unsolicited emails. Getting caught in this can damage your email reputation, eventually getting you blacklisted.
2. Spam complaints
Email recipients can mark your IP address as spam if you are sending unwanted bulk or suspicious emails to them. Your IP address develops a bad reputation, and in the long run, your IP can get blacklisted as you are seen as a potential threat to the safety of others.
3. Hacked IP and IP spoofing
Hackers can hack and start using your IP address for illegal activities. This can get your IP blacklisted even though you haven’t done anything wrong or suspicious.
IP spoofing occurs when an attacker fakes his/her IP address to impersonate someone else on the internet to avoid getting caught. This can get you blacklisted.
4. A sudden spike in email volume
When a large number of emails are sent in a short duration, it signals spamming behavior by email providers, thus leading to blacklisting.
How to remove your IP from IP blacklists
There are two strategies you can follow to remove your IP from IP blacklists. Let’s discuss both of them in detail.
Short-term strategy
Your short-term goal should be to get yourself delisted from these IP blacklists. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to proceed:
Step 1: Make use of online tools like MXToolbox or Spamhaus to identify which blacklists your IP is listed on.
Step 2: Find out the reason for blacklisting and take immediate action to resolve it, such as securing your network or stopping unauthorized email campaigns
Step 3: Contact the blacklists and submit a reason as to why you think your IP shouldn’t be on their blacklist. It typically involves filling out a form and proving that you've resolved the issue, if there was any.
The time taken to get your IP off the blacklist depends on the severity of the listing. However, to accelerate the removal process, you can present your case with supporting data and increase the chances of getting delisted quickly. All in all, the goal of blacklisting is not to stop you from sending emails but to catch the spammers.
Long-term strategy
The best way to deal with a disaster is to avoid it. So, to avoid getting blacklisted on these platforms, here are a few guidelines you can abide by:
Establish a sunset policy: Sunset policy refers to the practice of updating your email list and removing inactive disengaged subscribers.
Follow good email etiquette: Good email etiquette ensures that emails are professional, well-structured, and effective. Essentially, it is about sending emails that are tailored to enhance communication and professionalism.
Build an email cadence: This refers to the frequency of sending emails to subscribers. A well-planned email cadence ensures that your messages are delivered consistently to your audience. Consistency in email frequency to different user segments will lead to maximum engagement and keep your users happy.
Monitor reputation: Use email reputation monitoring services like Sender Score to stay informed about your sender score and take preemptive action if necessary.
Educate users: Educate users on your network who may be using your IP address about best email practices to prevent unintentional spamming and ensure compliance with anti-spam laws.
By combining these short-term actions with long-term strategies, you can effectively manage and prevent IP blacklisting issues in the future. This is also a part of the sender guidelines that were released by Yahoo and Google.
Takeaways
IP blacklisting can disrupt email deliverability and harm your reputation, but it’s a manageable challenge with the right approach. By identifying blacklist issues using online tools and taking immediate corrective actions, you can recover from short-term setbacks. However, the key to long-term success lies in adopting preventive strategies, such as maintaining clean email lists, following good email practices, and monitoring your reputation regularly. With vigilance and adherence to best practices, you can safeguard your IP and ensure uninterrupted communication with your audience.
